The Dexter Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
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Aprill named state's Mr. Track and Field
By Don Richter, Sports Editor
PUBLISHED: June 26, 2008
Dexter's Bobby Aprill was named Michigan's Mr. Track and Field earlier this month. The prestigious honor is a fitting end to Aprill's storied Dreadnaught career.
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This past season, Aprilla recently graduated senior, was a double winner at the Division 2 state track and field final in Zeeland besting his peers in the 1,600-meter run with a time of 4:12.98 and placing first in the 3,200-meter run in 9:16.41.
As a junior, Aprill helped lead Dexter to a Division 2 track and field state championship. Individually, he finished second in the 3,200-meter run with a clocking of 9:18.34. Placing first in the 3,200-meter run was Dreadnaught teammate Dan Jackson in 4:15.84. Jackson, now running for Notre Dame, also won the 3,200-meter run in 9:07.38.
As a sophomore, Aprill placed fourth in the state in the 3,200-meter run in 9:20.19.
Aprill (6-foot, 148 pounds), said he found out he had been named Michigan's Mr. Track and Field while attending a friend's graduation party.
"I was pretty excited," he said. "As were all the people around me. After the state meet, where I won two state championships, I knew it was possible that I would receive this award. It was in the back of my mind, but I never really thought much about it.
"It feels pretty good to be voted the best track athlete in all of Michigan, throughout all divisions. It makes all the hard work worth it."
Dexter coach Chris Hanlon said what impressed him the most about Aprill was his ability to perform at such a high level despite the weight of high expectations on his shoulders.
"From the start of his high school career, great races were expected of him," he said. "He also was following in a line of very successful teammates. He didn't let that expectation burden him or burn him out. Instead, he did the hard work and carved out his own part of history in the strong tradition of Dexter distance."
Aprill will continue his running career at the University of Michigan next season.
"Michigan attracted me because of its world class coach Ron Warhurst and because of the high level of talent the team has," said Aprill, who also considered Duke University. "I fit in with the team very well on my visit and just felt at home there. Not to mention that it has been my dream to run for the University of Michigan since I started running in the seventh grade. And now that I am, it is unreal to me."
Aprill, who helped lead Dexter to three cross country state championships during his prep career, including finishing first individually in 2006, outdueling teammate Jackson in a classic shoulder-to-shoulder sprint down the final straightaway, will also compete in the sport at U-M.
At Michigan, Aprill will join former Dexter teammates Lex Williams and Tony Nalli.
"It will be very cool to, once again, be on the same team as Lex and Tony," he said. "It was a lot of fun and a great experience to be with them in high school and it will only be better in college."
Aprill said the key to his success on the track and in cross country has been his unquenchable desire to be the best.
"I am a natural competitor," he said. "I run to compete. Looking forward to big races in the future is what motivates me. Every time I race well, or win a big race, it motivates me to work even harder to achieve more than I already have.
"All that I have achieved has been through hard work. Second has never been good enough for me."
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